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Flashing Lights In 'Incredibles 2' Prompts Health Warning

There is a new health warning for moviegoers who plan on seeing the Disney Pixar blockbuster hit, Incredibles 2. According to new reports, the flashing lights in certain scenes may trigger a seizure in people with a certain condition. The Incredibles 2 centers around mom Helen’s quest to fight the villainous Screenslaver, as he tries to sabotage the world with his mind-controlling abilities.

The Today Show reports that people with epilepsy have expressed concerns about the flashing strobe lights in the movie. In some incidents, the scenes have caused moviegoers to experience a seizure during the movie. Flashing or strobe lights at certain intensities or in certain patterns can trigger a seizure in people with photosensitive epilepsy. It is more common in children and adolescents, especially those with generalized epilepsy and a type known as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

Some have expressed concerns about flashing lights in the new Incredibles 2 movie. If you are among the 3% of people who live with photosensitive epilepsy, you may want to be cautious about seeing this film. About photosensitive epilepsy: https://t.co/aFc3PRB0yvpic.twitter.com/Mmql44lt0s

Epilepsy Foundation spokesperson Jackie Aker said in a statement to the media, “We heard about it on Saturday through our social media channels. A lot of the people from our community were posting about it, and a few calls came through our help line.”

As a result of this health warning, movie theaters from all across the country are issuing their own warnings, too. Many movie theaters are sharing their own notices by warning moviegoers that the film’s sequence of flashing lights may affect customers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy of other photosensitivities.

The cautions, which come from different theater groups, all share the same text. The posts warn that the movie contains a sequence of flashing lights which may affect customers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy or other photo sensitivities.

This is not the first time that an animated film has prompted public health concerns. According to CNN, back in 1997, flashing lights in the popular television cartoon "Pokemon" was also a cause for concern. There were more than 600 cases of convulsions, vomiting, irritated eyes and other symptoms among children who watched the cartoon in Japan. As a result, many Japanese parents banned their children from watching the series.

It is unclear if the Disney Pixar had warned theaters about the danger prior to the film’s release. Health experts also added that the flashing lights may also disturb those with vision impairments, autism and post-traumatic stress disorder. Furthermore, photosensitive epilepsy most commonly affects children between the ages of eight to 20, and is fairly rare.

So far Disney Pixar has not made any additional comments about the issue.